Rotslandschap met de Bastei in de Säksische Schweiz Possibly 1857 - 1859

This photograph of the Bastei rock formation in Saxon Switzerland was created by Hermann Krone. The phototype process used here was a nineteenth-century printing technique, not unlike mass production. Look closely at the image. Notice the contrast between the rough, textured surfaces of the rocks and the smooth, almost ethereal quality of the mist in the valley below. Photography, in its early days, was itself a kind of craft, a careful manipulation of chemistry and optics. The very act of capturing this landscape was a laborious undertaking. Krone’s choice of subject isn't accidental. The Bastei was already a tourist destination by the time this photograph was made, a place where people could experience the sublime power of nature. The photograph, then, becomes a kind of commodity, a way to take that experience home with you. So while it might be easy to see this as just a pretty picture, it's also a reminder of how even the most awe-inspiring landscapes can be packaged and sold.